A multi-processor platform will be used for the development of an insitu intelligent materials processing system. This system includes data acquisition, analysis and control of advanced material processing that can be conducted in real-time as the process is running. This equipment will be dedicated to support research in advancing several material processing problems including: (1) composition and structure control for laminated coatings, (2) real-time control for chemical vapor deposition processing, and (3) automated inspection of coatings. All these projects take a multi-disciplinary approach in developing a fundamental understanding and control of the principal phenomena of manufacturing and structure/property correlations which would assist in the engineering and development of new and novel materials capabilities. There is an urgent need in all segments of technology and industry for new and advanced materials. Custom tailoring of materials provides exciting new capabilities for all applications from advanced electronic devices to new structural materials. A major barrier to wide-spread use of this approach has been the difficulties in utilizing all the data and processing information needed to design and fabricate these materials. An intelligent materials processing capability will significantly aid the materials engineer in achieving these objectives.
